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Meet the Level Controllers

Have you ever wondered about the role of a Level Controller? What exactly do they do for you and how parts of their jobs differ from your other tutors? Read on to find out.

Jo Lloyd Jones, TC Level Controller

What does a Level Controller do?

I am responsible for the smooth running of all TC classes, whether they are online or face to face, or a combination of both. I look after all TC classes, regardless of where they run.

The role involves working closely with the various subject teams, lecturers, the operations team and examinations.

As TC is the first stage of the CA qualification, I am also involved in student inductions and record all the pre-course briefings.

What do you do for TC students?

TC students are welcome to contact me with any general TC queries.

It is always nice to hear from students and I can also point them in the right direction with technical and exam queries.

What advice do you have?

Students should never feel alone, or that there is no one to talk to. We offer plenty of help and support. You can always reach us at tc@icas.com.

Lauren O'Brien, TPS Level Controller

What does a Level Controller do?

Everything from scheduling and arranging classes, preparing pre-course information, ensuring the website is up to date, arranging for paper and CABLE material to be available and ensuring that there are rooms and tutors booked for the classes. We manage and monitor the mock results during the course, manage the counselling sessions and intervention process for students on modular or intensive style courses and have regular dialogue with firms, tutors and our BPP joint venture partners to ensure that the courses are being delivered consistently throughout the country.

What do you do for the TPS level?

I read every TPS mock exam word by word to ensure consistency and quality across the level - that’s 28 mocks in a year, in case you were wondering!

Of course, I also work closely with the TPS subject experts to cover a huge range of matters like syllabus updates and trying to ensure consistency between the subjects where possible, along with my counterparts in the operations team who genuinely do most of the hard work!

What advice do you have?

Work hard – TPS is the largest level both in terms of time and technical learning. This is where you will really prove your technical accounting skills.

It's not easy (I’ve been through the qualification myself and I remember how tough it was) but it is worth it. Also, please do your pre-course work and make sure your assumed knowledge is up to date. We don’t have time to cover this in class, and time and time again we see students with weak assumed knowledge struggling at TPS because they don’t have a sound foundation to build their new, more complex, knowledge on.

And please keep calm if you can! TPS can get a little overwhelming at times…

Cat Devaney, TPE Level Controller

What are your responsibilities for TPE?

My role is a little unique as I am also the only TPE subject controller. It can be difficult to separate the roles. My Level Controller role is to oversee the TPE course across the whole of the UK.

This involves:

Working with firms to set course times throughout the year;

Working with TC and TPS level controllers to consider impact of work on TPE;

Ensuring consistency through CA syllabus learning outcomes;

Reviewing mock results for consistency across the UK;

Communication to TPE students and employers;

Communication with our JV partner BPP on delivery of the TPE course;

My role involves a lot more which would fall under the subject controller heading!

When should students contact you?

Course management queries should be directed to me, as well as any questions about course content, syllabus or advice on approaching TPE.

Operational queries such as mock timings, when/where to get material and venue information should be directed to the TPE Course Supervisor at tpe@icas.com.

What advice do you have?

TPE is not TC or TPS! You will need to take a different approach to studying at this level.

The aim of TPE is to ensure that a newly-qualified CA has developed the necessary technical knowledge and professional skills to provide value added advice in real-life situations. You should focus on:

how to tailor your technical knowledge to give advice which is specific to the real-life situation in hand;